Main Stage, 9.20pm
Wednesday the 24th of August 2011
Describe in a Tweet: When you're this excited, you can only end up a little miffed, right?
What happened: One of the few remaining icons - a proper global superstar. Once a cartoon prankster, now a post-rehab pessimist. Three personas, seven albums, one critically acclaimed lead in a film and, for the next 90 minutes or so, he's all ours. Bangor, get ready! Or 'Belfast' we should say - that's where Eminem references throughout the set, deciding to round up to the nearest city rather than, you know, find out where he actually is.
Anyway, after we get over the initial drama that, you know, Eminem is quite literally standing a few metres away from Pickie Pool, it's a slow start. Even 'Cleaning Out My Closet' and 'The Way I Am' don't quite set the place alight - preachy and indulgent doesn't really get the party started. And that's the main problem throughout: the majority of Eminem's music is spiky and aggressive, and thus hardly ideal for a festival crowd.
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Next Stage, 8.55pm
Wednesday the 24th of August 2011
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What happened: As always with Not Squares, a proper rave up. We're bounding about a park in Bangor town, but close your eyes and this is somewhere a lot sweatier, a lot darker. This lot seem incapable of sitting still - every song sounds a little warped since the last time it was performed. 'Release the Bees' is rammed full of bowel moving FX and squelch, an unhealthy pile of sinister fun. A new track (and apparently a future single) is as close they've ever got to a traditional, structured 'song' - it's also as close to the poppy-electro vibe the likes of The Klaxons attempted (and often failed) to nail. They're perfect to closeÌýtheÌýstage, winning over a healthy gathering who are (lets face it) more than a little tidily and well up for a dance.
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Main Stage, 8pm
Wednesday 24th of August
DescribeÌýin a Tweet: experienced, reliable festival fun.
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What Happened: Following an anticipation-building walk-on, they kick things off with ‘Everyday I Love You…’, slightly darker than the original version, signifying their maturation with the inevitable associated world-weariness attached. As veterans, they’re a good festival band, knowing how to work the crowd, whipping them up into bouncy sing-alongs for the well-known singles such ‘Ruby’ and ‘I Predict a Riot’, but falling slightly flat in-between. Their comfort in their environment extends to front-man Ricky Wilson playing with the on-stage cameraman and leading the crowd in a Mexican wave, whilst managing not to break his neck running side to side. After going to the crowd to meet his public, they leave us happy with ‘Oh My God’ to close.
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